JP2018059240A - Apparatus for manufacturing absorbent article, and method for manufacturing absorbent article - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To make it possible to arrange and uniformly disperse a granular material inside an absorber when an absorbent article having an absorber in which a water absorptive granular material is arranged is manufactured.SOLUTION: An apparatus for manufacturing an absorbent article comprises a gas fiber-opening apparatus having a transportation passage formed including a fiber-opening chamber in which tow to be transported is opened by gas, and an addition apparatus for adding a water absorptive granular material to tow in an addition position situated on the upstream of the transportation direction of tow than an outlet of the fiber-opening chamber. Tow is transported downward from above, from the addition position to the outlet of the fiber-opening chamber, in a state that the outlet of the fiber-opening chamber is arranged at the lower part of the addition position.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to an absorbent article manufacturing apparatus and an absorbent article manufacturing method.

  Absorbent articles such as paper diapers and pads for preventing urine leakage include, for example, an absorbent that absorbs moisture, a top sheet having liquid permeability, and a back sheet having air permeability. The absorbent body is manufactured by, for example, opening a bale-like tow made of a plurality of crimped fibers using the opening device disclosed in Patent Document 1 or 2. In some cases, a granular material made of a super absorbent polymer (SAP) is added to the absorbent body. For example, the granular materials are dispersed and arranged in the fiber gaps of the tow opened by gas. In the absorbent article having such a structure, for example, moisture diffuses into the absorbent body through fine holes formed in the top sheet and is absorbed by the particulate matter.

JP 2011-241487 A JP2013-112909A

  In the conventional method for manufacturing an absorbent article, it is difficult to disperse and disperse the particulate matter inside the absorbent body, and the particulate matter added to the absorbent body may be unevenly distributed inside the tow. Thereby, there exists a possibility that the water absorption performance of an absorbent article may vary partially.

  Therefore, the present invention aims to make it possible to disperse and disperse the particulates uniformly in the absorbent body when manufacturing an absorbent article including the absorbent body in which the water-absorbent particulate matter is disposed. Yes.

  In order to solve the above problems, an absorbent article manufacturing apparatus according to an aspect of the present invention includes a gas opening device in which a conveyance path including a fiber opening chamber that opens a tow to be conveyed with gas is formed; An addition device for adding water-absorbing particulates to the tow at an addition position located upstream of the opening of the fiber opening chamber in the conveying direction of the tow, and the outlet is disposed below the addition position In this state, the tow is transported from above to below from the addition position toward the outlet.

  According to the above configuration, in the state where the outlet of the opening chamber is arranged below the adding position located upstream of the opening of the opening chamber in the conveying direction of the tow, from the adding position to the outlet of the opening chamber In addition, the tow is conveyed from the top to the bottom, and water-absorbing granular materials are added to the tow at the addition position. Therefore, when the tow is opened in the opening chamber, It is possible to prevent gravity from acting in a direction perpendicular to the transport direction. Thereby, it is possible to suppress the uneven distribution of the particulate matter due to gravity inside the tow, and to easily disperse the particulate matter inside the tow.

  The tow may be conveyed in a vertical direction from the addition position to the outlet in a state where the outlet is disposed directly below the addition position. This further suppresses the uneven distribution of the particulate matter due to gravity inside the tow, making it easier to disperse the particulate matter evenly inside the tow.

  The addition position may be located on the upstream side from the entrance of the opening chamber. Thereby, it is possible to easily disperse and dispose the granular material in the fiber gaps of the tow while opening the tow in the opening chamber.

  The gas opening device may include a staying part that temporarily retains the tow that has passed through the outlet, and the tow that has passed through the outlet may pass through the staying part in a vertical direction. Thereby, the fiber density of a tow can be raised by a retention part, maintaining the state by which the granular material was uniformly disperse | distributed and arrange | positioned inside the tow | toe.

  The gas opening device may include a gas introduction port for introducing the gas into the conveyance path, and the addition position may be located on the upstream side of the gas introduction port. Thereby, the granular material introduce | transduced from an addition position can be favorably disperse | distributed and arrange | positioned inside a tow | toe with the gas introduce | transduced into a conveyance path from a gas inlet.

  On the upstream side of the gas opening device, a plurality of pairs of opening rolls for opening the tow in contact with the peripheral surface may be provided. As a result, the tow opened by a plurality of pairs of opening rolls can be opened with a gas opening device while being further entangled, so that the granular material can be evenly distributed inside the tow with a wide fiber gap. Easy to disperse.

  The manufacturing method of an absorbent article according to one aspect of the present invention includes a gas opening device in which a conveyance path including a fiber opening chamber that opens a tow to be conveyed with a gas is formed; The addition device for adding to the tow is located upstream of the opening of the opening chamber in the conveying direction of the tow and the outlet is below the addition position for the addition device to add the particulate matter to the tow. In the arranged state, the tow is conveyed from above to below from the addition position toward the outlet.

  The tow may be conveyed in the vertical direction from the addition position to the outlet in a state where the outlet is disposed directly below the addition position.

  The addition position may be positioned on the upstream side of the opening of the opening chamber.

  The gas opening device having a staying part that temporarily retains the tow that has passed through the outlet may be used to pass the tow that has passed through the outlet in the vertical direction through the staying part.

  You may use the said gas opening apparatus which has the gas introduction port which introduces the said gas to the said conveyance path, and may position the said addition position in the said upstream from the said gas introduction port.

  On the upstream side of the gas opening device, the tow may be opened by contacting the peripheral surfaces of a plurality of pairs of opening rolls.

  According to each aspect of the present invention, when manufacturing an absorbent article including an absorbent body in which water-absorbing granular materials are arranged, the granular materials can be uniformly dispersed and arranged in the absorbent body.

It is a side view of the absorptive article manufacturing device concerning a 1st embodiment. It is the vertical sectional view seen from the width direction of the tow band of the gas opening device and the addition device of FIG. It is the vertical sectional view seen from the conveyance direction of the conventional tow band to which the granular material was added. It is the vertical sectional view seen from the conveyance direction of the tow band which passes the stay part of FIG. 1 and is conveyed upstream from a conveyance roll pair. It is the vertical sectional view seen from the conveyance direction of the absorbent article manufactured by the absorbent article manufacturing apparatus of FIG. It is a side view of the gas opening apparatus and addition apparatus which concern on 2nd Embodiment.

  Each embodiment will be described below with reference to the drawings. The upstream side and the downstream side mentioned below refer to the upstream side and the downstream side in the transport direction P of the tow band 60 in this order.

(First embodiment)
[Absorbent article manufacturing equipment]
FIG. 1 is an overall view of an absorbent article manufacturing apparatus 1 (hereinafter simply referred to as manufacturing apparatus 1) according to the first embodiment. A packing container 50 is disposed in the vicinity of the manufacturing apparatus 1. In the packing container 50, the tow band 60 is folded in a bale shape and compressed and packed. The packaging container 50 of FIG. 1 has a cross-sectional structure.

  The fibers contained in the tow band 60 are long fibers of cellulose acetate tow, but other fibers may be used. As an example, in the manufacturing apparatus 1, the toe band 60 is transported in the transport direction P while the width direction is kept horizontal.

  The manufacturing apparatus 1 includes a first manufacturing unit 2 and a second manufacturing unit 3. The first manufacturing unit 2 includes a first widening device 4, a guide 5, a second widening device 6, a first opening roll pair 7, a second opening roll pair 8, a gas opening apparatus 9, an addition apparatus 10, and a transport roll. It has a pair 11 and a plurality of free rolls 12.

  The first widening device 4 widens the tow band 60 lifted from the inside of the packaging container 50 in the width direction. The guide 5 guides the tow band 60 that has passed through the first widening device 4 toward the second widening device 6. The second widening device 6 widens the tow band 60 that has passed through the guide 5 in the width direction. As an example, the first widening device 4 and the second widening device 6 have the same configuration. The first widening device 4 and the second widening device 6 are also referred to as banding jet devices.

  The first opening roll pair 7 and the second opening roll pair 8 are opened by bringing the tow band 60 into contact with the circumferential surface on the upstream side of the gas opening apparatus 9. The second spread roll pair 8 is disposed on the downstream side of the first spread roll pair 7. The first fiber opening roll pair 7 has a pair of rolls 13 and 14 that are arranged with their peripheral surfaces facing each other. The second fiber opening roll pair 8 has a pair of rolls 15 and 16 that are arranged with their peripheral surfaces facing each other. The second opening roll pair 8 rotates at a peripheral speed faster than the peripheral speed of the first opening roll pair 7.

  The tow band 60 that has passed through the second widening device 6 is inserted between the pair of rolls 13 and 14 and between the pair of rolls 15 and 16. While the tow band 60 is in contact with the peripheral surfaces of the rolls 13 to 16, the first opening roll pair 7 and the second opening roll pair 8 are tensioned in the transport direction P and are opened in bulk.

  On the peripheral surface of one roll of the pair of rolls 13 and 14 and one roll of the pair of rolls 15 and 16, a groove for opening the tow band 60 in the width direction is formed in a spiral shape around the roll axis. May be.

  The gas opening device 9 is a tow opening device, and a conveyance path 43 including a fiber opening chamber 43a for opening the tow band 60 to be conveyed with the gas G is formed. A plurality of free rolls 12 are arranged on the upstream side and the downstream side of the gas opening device 9. The tow band 60 that has passed through the second opening roll pair 8 is guided by the plurality of free rolls 12 and introduced into the gas opening apparatus 9 from the upper side to the lower side.

  The gas opening device 9 includes an introduction unit 17, a jet generation unit 18, an opening molding unit 19, and a staying unit 20. In the gas opening device 9, an introduction portion 17, a jet generation portion 18, a fiber opening molding portion 19, and a staying portion 20 are arranged in order from the top to the bottom. Hereinafter, the arrangement of the gas opening device 9 is also referred to as a vertical arrangement.

  The introduction part 17 is attached to the upstream side of the jet generation part 18. The introduction part 17 includes a block part 33 and a guide part 34. The block 33 is formed in a rectangular parallelepiped shape, and an internal space 27 extending in the transport direction P is formed. The guide part 34 is formed in a cylindrical shape and is provided on the upper side of the block part 33. The inner diameter of the guide portion 34 is increased from the downstream side toward the upstream side. The introduction unit 17 is configured to guide the inside of the block unit 33 while guiding the tow band 60 that has passed through the second opening roll pair 8 and the water-absorbing granular material 28 supplied by the addition device 10 in the vertical direction by the guide unit 34. It is circulated through the space 27 and introduced into the jet generator 18.

  The jet generation unit 18 is attached to the upstream side of the spread molding unit 19. The jet generator 18 is cylindrical, and an internal space 40 extending in the transport direction P is formed. The jet generating unit 18 generates a jet by the gas G introduced from the outside in the internal space 40 and mixes the tow band 60 and the particulate matter 28. The jet generation unit 18 conveys the tow band 60 and the granular material 28 to the internal space 40 and introduces them into the fiber opening molding unit 19.

  The opening molding part 19 is cylindrical, and a conveyance path 43 extending in the conveyance direction P is formed therein. The fiber opening molding unit 19 mixes the tow band 60, the particulate matter 28, and the gas G that have passed through the jet generating unit 18 while transporting them to the transport path 43, and opens and molds the tow band 60 in the fiber opening chamber 43a. At the same time, the granular material 28 is dispersed and arranged inside the tow band 60.

  The staying part 20 is attached to the downstream side of the spread molding part 19. The retention part 20 temporarily retains the tow band 60 that has passed through the conveyance path 43. Thereby, the retention part 20 adjusts the bulk or fiber density of the tow band 60 while suppressing the expansion of the tow band 60. The staying part 20 has a plurality of long members 32. The plurality of long members 32 are extended toward the downstream side from the spread molding part 19 while being spaced apart from each other in the circumferential direction of the transport path 43. The upstream end portion of the long member 32 is connected to the downstream end portion of the spread molding part 19. The downstream end portions of the plurality of long members 32 are close to each other from the upstream side toward the downstream side. The tow band 60 that has passed through the outlet of the opening chamber 43a passes through the stay portion 20 in the vertical direction.

  The adding device 10 adds the water-absorbing particulate matter 28 to the tow band 60 at the addition position N located upstream from the outlet of the opening chamber 43 a of the gas opening device 9. Specifically, the adding device 10 adds the particulate matter 28 to the tow band 60 on the upstream side of the toe band introduction port 35 b (see FIG. 2) of the jet generating unit 18. The granular material 28 consists of a highly water-absorbent resin as an example.

  Here, in the manufacturing apparatus 1, the tow band 60 is conveyed from above to below from the addition position N to the exit of the opening chamber 43 a in a state where the outlet of the opening chamber 43 a is arranged below the addition position N. . As an example, in the production apparatus 1, in the gas opening device 9, the tow band 60 is directed from the addition position N to the outlet of the opening chamber 43a in a state where the outlet of the opening chamber 43a is arranged immediately below the adding position N. It is conveyed in the vertical direction.

  The adding device 10 includes a hopper 21 and a supply pipe 22. A granular material 28 is stored in the hopper 21. The supply pipe 22 supplies the particulate matter 28 stored in the hopper 21 to the introduction unit 17. The downstream end portion of the supply pipe 22 is disposed above the introduction portion 17. In the present embodiment, the addition position N is located on the upstream side of the entrance of the opening chamber 43a. Specifically, the addition position N is set at the upper end position of the guide portion 34.

  The addition device 10 is configured to remove the particulate matter 28 stored in the hopper 21 on one side of the bale-like tow band 60 (for example, the surface corresponding to the upper surface when the tow band 60 passes through the pair of opening rolls 7 and 8. ). In the manufacturing apparatus 1, the particulate matter 28 stored in the hopper 21 is dropped through the supply pipe 22 and added to the tow band 60. Note that the particulate matter 28 may be ejected from the downstream end of the supply pipe 22 by a pressurized gas (air as an example) and added to the tow band 60.

  Moreover, the conveyance path 43 may contain the other opening chamber arrange | positioned in the upstream or downstream of the opening chamber 43a. In this case, the addition device 10 adds the particulate matter 28 to the tow band 60 at the addition position N located upstream of the opening of the opening chamber on the most downstream side in the transport direction P among the plurality of opening chambers. That's fine. Moreover, in this case, the addition position N may be located upstream of the inlet of the opening chamber on the most upstream side among the plurality of opening chambers, for example.

  The conveyance roll pair 11 conveys the tow band 60 that has passed through the free roll 12 disposed on the downstream side of the gas opening device 9 to the downstream side. The pair of transport rolls 11 includes a pair of transport rolls (also referred to as take-up rolls) 30 and 31 that are pivotally supported in parallel. The toe band 60 is inserted between the pair of transport rolls 30 and 31. The toe band 60 is taken up by the pair of transport rolls 30 and 31 and is pressed in the thickness direction by the pair of transport rolls 30 and 31. Thereby, the absorber 61 is manufactured. The absorber 61 is conveyed to the second manufacturing unit 3 on the downstream side of the conveyance roll pair 11.

  The second manufacturing unit 3 arranges the back sheet 63 and the top sheet 64 so as to overlap the absorber 61. The second manufacturing unit 3 includes a first supply device 24, a sheet conveying device 25, a second supply device 26, an attaching device 29, a sheet forming roll pair 37, and a sticking device 38.

  The first supply device 24 feeds the belt-like back sheet 63 from the first sheet roll 66 and supplies it on the transport line L. The sheet transport device 25 transports the back sheet 63 to the transport line L. The absorber 61 is supplied on the back sheet 63. The second supply device 26 feeds the belt-like top sheet 64 from the second sheet roll 67 and puts the top sheet 64 on the transport line L so that the absorber 61 is sandwiched between the back sheet 63 and the top sheet 64. Supply.

  The attaching device 29 attaches an adhesive to the top sheet 64 between the second sheet roll 67 and the sheet forming roll pair 37. The sheet forming roll pair 37 conveys the stacked back sheet 63, absorber 61, and top sheet 64 to the downstream side while forming the sheet into a sheet shape. The sticking device 38 presses the back sheet 63 and the top sheet 64 in the thickness direction, and sticks the back sheet 63 and the top sheet 64 with an adhesive while sandwiching the absorber 61 therebetween. In the manufacturing apparatus 1, the back sheet 63, the absorbent body 61, and the top sheet 64 attached by the attaching apparatus 38 are cut, and the absorbent article 62 (see FIG. 5) having a predetermined size is manufactured.

  In addition, although the absorbent article 62 is a diaper use in this embodiment, of course, other uses may be sufficient, for example, a urine leak prevention pad use may be sufficient. When the absorbent article 62 is used for a pad for preventing urine leakage or the like, the back sheet 63 may be omitted.

[Gas opening device and additive device]
FIG. 2 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the gas opening device 9 and the addition device 10 of FIG. An opening 34 a through which the tow band 60 and the granular material 28 pass is provided in the center of the lower portion of the guide portion 34. The downstream end portion of the block portion 33 is recessed inward in the transport direction P of the block portion 33.

  The block portion 33 has a toe band introduction port 33a and a toe band discharge port 33b. The toe band introduction port 33 a is provided on the upstream end surface of the block portion 33. The toe band introduction port 33a overlaps the opening 34a in the vertical direction. The toe band discharge port 33 b is provided on the downstream end surface of the block portion 33. The upstream end portion of the jet generating portion 18 is inserted into the downstream end portion of the block portion 33. The internal space 27 extends in the vertical direction. The internal space 27 is smoothly connected to the toe band introduction path 42 of the jet generator 18.

  The jet generation unit 18 includes a mixing unit 35 and a nozzle unit 36. The mixing part 35 is a tubular part extending in the transport direction P. The mixing unit 35 includes a gas inlet 35a, a toe band inlet 35b, and a toe band outlet 35c. The gas inlet 35 a is disposed on the upstream side of the mixing unit 35. The toe band inlet 35 b is disposed at the upstream end of the mixing unit 35. The toe band discharge port 35 c is disposed at the downstream end of the mixing unit 35.

  The gas introduction port 35 a introduces pressurized gas G (air as an example) into the internal space 40. Thereby, the gas opening device 9 has the gas introduction port 35 a for introducing the gas G into the transport path 43. The addition position N is located upstream from the gas inlet 35a. The toe band introduction port 35 b introduces the toe band 60 into the internal space 40. The internal space 40 extends in the vertical direction. The downstream end of the mixing unit 35 is inserted into the fiber opening molding unit 19.

  The nozzle portion 36 is provided on the upstream side of the internal space 40. A tapered portion 36 a is formed at the downstream end of the nozzle portion 36. The tapered portion 36a has a tapered shape from the upstream side toward the downstream side.

  The inner peripheral surface of the mixing portion 35 facing the outer peripheral surface of the tapered portion 36a is reduced in diameter from the upstream side toward the downstream side while being separated from the outer peripheral surface of the tapered portion 36a. Thereby, a jet flow path 41 is formed between the outer peripheral surface of the tapered portion 36 a and the inner peripheral surface of the mixing portion 35. The jet channel 41 has an annular cross section. The jet flow path 41 generates a jet by the gas G introduced from the gas introduction port 35 a into the internal space 40 and ejects the jet into the internal space 40.

  A toe band introduction path 42 is formed inside the nozzle portion 36. The toe band introduction path 42 extends downstream from the toe band introduction port 35b. The toe band introduction path 42 extends in the vertical direction. The outlet of the tow band introduction path 42 is disposed downstream of the gas introduction port 35a. The tow band 60 that has passed through the tow band introduction path 42 is mixed with the gas G that has passed through the jet flow path 41 and flows through the internal space 40.

  The gas G may be a gas other than air. Further, the outlet of the tow band introduction path 42 and the gas introduction port 35a may be arranged at positions overlapping each other when viewed from the side. Moreover, the exit of the tow band introduction path 42 may be disposed upstream of the gas introduction port 35a.

  The upstream end portion and the downstream end portion of the spread molding part 19 are recessed inward in the transport direction P of the spread molding part 19. The spread molding part 19 has a tow band inlet 19a and a tow band outlet 19b. The toe band introduction port 19a and the toe band discharge port 19b are separated in the transport direction P. The toe band introduction port 19 a is disposed on the upstream end surface of the spread molding part 19. The toe band discharge port 19 b is disposed on the downstream end surface of the spread molding part 19. The internal space 40 is smoothly connected to the conveyance path 43 by inserting the downstream end of the mixing unit 35 into the upstream end of the spread molding unit 19.

  The conveyance path 43 extends in the vertical direction. The opening chamber 43 a extends in the longitudinal direction of the transport path 43. In the present embodiment, the toe band inlet 19a corresponds to the inlet of the opening chamber 43a, and the tow band outlet 19b corresponds to the outlet of the opening chamber 43a. Upstream end portions of a plurality of long members 32 are inserted into the downstream end portion of the spread molding portion 19.

  As an example, the flow path cross-sectional shape of the outlet of the opening chamber 43a is a substantially elliptical shape in which the width direction of the tow band 60 is the major axis direction, but is not limited to this, for example, a circular shape, a rectangular shape, and a polygonal shape. Either is acceptable. Moreover, the conveyance path 43 may have the area | region where the flow-path cross-sectional area of the opening chamber 43a increases toward the downstream from the upstream.

  A staying chamber 44 surrounded by a plurality of long members 32 is formed in the staying part 20. The staying chamber 44 extends in the vertical direction. The flow passage cross-sectional area of the retention chamber 44 gradually decreases from the upstream side toward the downstream side. In the staying chamber 44, the pressing force that the tow band 60 receives from the long member 32 increases from the upstream side toward the downstream side. As a result, the toe band 60 is compressed by the plurality of long members 32 and the fiber density increases. The gas G discharged from the spread molding part 19 is diffused to the outside of the staying chamber 44 through the gaps between the plurality of long members 32.

  Although the elongate member 32 is comprised by the rod-shaped member as an example, it is not limited to this, For example, a plate member may be sufficient. When the long member 32 is configured by a plate member, the long member 32 is disposed so that the plate surface of the plate member is in surface contact with the toe band 60.

  In the present embodiment, the longitudinal directions of the internal space 27, the tow band introduction path 42, the internal space 40, and the transport path 43 arranged between the addition position N and the outlet of the opening chamber 43a are parallel to the vertical direction. Is set.

  When the tow band 60 is conveyed through the opening chamber 43a, the tow band 60 expands corresponding to the flow path cross-sectional shape of the opening chamber 43a, and a plurality of fibers are opened while being intertwined with each other. 28 are distributed and disposed in the fiber gaps of the tow band 60. The toe band 60 is pressed against the inner peripheral surface of the opening molding portion 19 and is molded into a channel cross-sectional shape at the outlet of the opening chamber 43a.

  As an example, by reducing the flow path cross-sectional area of the opening chamber 43a and the flow path cross-sectional area of the retention chamber 44, a cross-sectional area perpendicular to the conveying direction P of the tow band 60 passing through the gas opening device 9 is obtained. The fiber density of the tow band 60 can be reduced, and the granular material 28 can be easily held at a predetermined position by the plurality of fibers of the tow band 60 inside the tow band 60. In addition, by improving the fiber density of the tow band 60, a good tactile sensation of the absorbent body 61 can be obtained.

  Here, in the manufacturing apparatus 1, the outlet of the opening chamber 43 a is arranged directly below the addition position N, and the tow band 60 is conveyed in the vertical direction from the addition position N to the outlet of the opening chamber 43 a, so the addition position Between N and the outlet of the opening chamber 43a, the direction of gravity acting on the granular material 28 is coincident with the conveying direction P, and gravity is prevented from acting on the granular material 28 in a direction perpendicular to the conveying direction P. The Therefore, when the tow band 60 is opened in the opening chamber 43a, the particulate matter 28 is suppressed from moving in the direction perpendicular to the transport direction P due to gravity.

  Thereby, between the addition position N and the exit of the opening chamber 43a, the tow band 60 is opened in a state where the particulate matter 28 is uniformly dispersed in the inside of the tow band 60.

  In addition, in the manufacturing apparatus 1, the exit of the opening chamber 43a should just be arrange | positioned under the addition position N, the internal space 27 arrange | positioned between the addition position N and the exit of the opening chamber 43a, the tow band introduction path Each longitudinal direction of 42, the internal space 40, and the conveyance path 43 does not necessarily need to be parallel to the vertical direction. For this reason, for example, the longitudinal direction of any of the internal space 27, the toe band introduction path 42, the internal space 40, and the transport path 43 is inclined at an angle in a range of 0 ° to 30 ° with respect to the vertical direction. You may do it.

  As an example, the longitudinal direction of any of the internal space 27, the toe band introduction path 42, the internal space 40, and the transport path 43 is preferably parallel to the vertical direction, and the internal space 27, the toe band introduction path 42, and the internal space 40. More preferably, each longitudinal direction of the transport path 43 is parallel to the vertical direction.

  Further, at least a part (for example, the staying portion 20) on the downstream side of the opening of the opening chamber 43a of the gas opening device 9 may be arranged such that the longitudinal direction is inclined with respect to the vertical direction. The direction may be arranged parallel to the horizontal direction.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, the gas opening device 9 in which the conveying path 43 including the opening chamber 43 a that opens the tow band 60 to be conveyed with the gas G is formed, and the water-absorbing granular material 28 are formed in the tow band 60. Using the addition apparatus 10 to be added, in the state where the outlet of the opening chamber 43a is located upstream of the outlet of the opening chamber 43a and below the addition position N, the opening chamber 43a The tow band 60 is conveyed from above to below toward the exit.

  In addition, the tow band 60 is conveyed in the vertical direction from the addition position N to the outlet of the opening chamber 43a in a state where the opening of the opening chamber 43a is arranged directly below the addition position N. Further, the addition position N is positioned upstream of the entrance of the opening chamber 43a.

  Further, using the gas opening device 9 having the staying part 20 that temporarily retains the tow band 60 that has passed through the outlet of the opening chamber 43 a, the tow band 60 that has passed through the outlet of the opening chamber 43 a is perpendicular to the staying part 20. Pass in the direction.

  Further, the gas opening device 9 having the gas introduction port 35a for introducing the gas G into the transport path 43 is used, and the addition position N is positioned upstream of the gas introduction port 35a. Further, on the upstream side of the gas opening device 9, the tow band 60 is opened by bringing the tow band 60 into contact with the peripheral surfaces of the plural pairs of opening rolls 7 and 8.

[Tow band and absorbent article]
FIG. 3 is a vertical cross-sectional view as seen from the conveying direction of the conventional tow band 60X to which the particulate matter 28 is added. FIG. 3 shows, as an example, the gas opening device is arranged so that the portion between the addition position of the particulate matter and the opening of the opening chamber is horizontal, and the tow band 60X is directed from the adding position toward the opening of the opening chamber. The vertical section of the tow band 60X is shown when the granular material 28 is added to the tow band 60X from above at the addition position. As shown in FIG. 3, in the tow band 60X, gravity acts on the granular material 28 in one direction (vertical direction) perpendicular to the conveying direction of the tow band 60X with respect to the tow band 60X opened in the opening chamber. Thus, the granular material 28 is unevenly distributed on the lower side of the toe band 60X.

  4 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the tow band 60 passing through the staying portion 20 of FIG. 1 and transported upstream from the transport roll pair 11 as viewed from the transport direction P. As shown in FIG. 4, in the manufacturing apparatus 1, on the other hand, gravity acts on the granular material 28 in a direction perpendicular to the conveying direction P of the tow band 60 from the addition position N to the outlet of the opening chamber 43 a. By suppressing this, the granular material 28 is uniformly dispersed in the toe band 60.

  In the manufacturing apparatus 1, the tow band 60 is opened by all the opening roll pairs (in this embodiment, the first opening roll pair 7 and the second opening roll pair 8), and then the tow band is opened by the gas opening apparatus 9. As the tow band 60 is opened, the predetermined amount of granular material 28 uniformly dispersed in the fiber gaps of the tow band 60 is formed by the plurality of fibers of the tow band 60. Is held in.

  FIG. 5 is a vertical sectional view of the absorbent article 62 manufactured by the manufacturing apparatus 1 of FIG. As shown in FIG. 5, in the manufacturing apparatus 1, the back sheet 63 is disposed below the absorber 61 in which the granular material 28 is uniformly dispersed and disposed inside the toe band 60, and the top sheet 64 is disposed above. Thus, the absorbent article 62 having uniform water absorption performance in the width direction is manufactured.

  The absorbent article 62 is prevented from partially varying the water absorption performance and can exhibit a uniform water absorption performance in the width direction, and thus can absorb water well throughout the absorbent article 62. In addition, since the particulate matter 28 is not unevenly distributed inside the absorbent body 61, it is prevented that the surface of the absorbent article 62 becomes sticky due to water being concentrated and absorbed at the unevenly distributed position of the particulate matter 28, The tactile sensation after water absorption of the absorbent article 62 can be kept good.

  As described above, according to the manufacturing apparatus 1, the tow band 60 is directed from the addition position N to the outlet of the opening chamber 43a in a state where the outlet of the opening chamber 43a is arranged below the addition position N. Since the granular material 28 is added to the tow band 60 at the addition position N located upstream from the outlet of the opening chamber 43a while being conveyed from above, the tow band 60 is opened in the opening chamber 43a. In this case, gravity acts on the granular material 28 in a direction perpendicular to the transport direction P. Thereby, the uneven distribution of the particulate matter 28 due to gravity inside the tow band 60 is suppressed, and the particulate matter 28 can be easily dispersed and arranged inside the toe band 60.

  In addition, since the tow band 60 is conveyed in the vertical direction from the addition position N to the outlet of the opening chamber 43a in a state where the opening of the opening chamber 43a is arranged directly below the adding position N, the inside of the tow band 60 In this case, the uneven distribution of the particulate matter due to gravity is further suppressed, and the particulate matter 28 can be more uniformly dispersed and arranged in the toe band 60.

  In addition, since the addition position N is located upstream from the inlet of the opening chamber 43a, the particulate matter 28 is efficiently dispersed in the fiber gaps of the tow band 60 while opening the tow band 60 in the opening chamber 43a. Can be easily arranged.

  Further, since the gas opening device 9 has the staying part 20 and the tow band 60 that has passed through the outlet of the opening chamber 43a passes through the staying part 20 in the vertical direction, the particulate matter 28 is uniformly inside the tow band 60. The fiber density of the tow band 60 can be increased by the staying part 20 while maintaining the dispersed state.

  Moreover, since the gas opening apparatus 9 has the gas inlet 35a which introduce | transduces the gas G into the conveyance path 43, and the addition position N is located upstream from the gas inlet 35a, from the gas inlet 35a The granular material 28 introduced from the addition position N can be well dispersed inside the tow band 60 by the gas G introduced into the conveyance path 43.

  Moreover, since the manufacturing apparatus 1 includes a plurality of pairs of opening rolls 7 and 8 for opening the tow band 60 in contact with the circumferential surface on the upstream side of the gas opening apparatus 9, a plurality of pairs of opening fibers are provided. The tow band 60 opened by the roll pairs 7 and 8 can be opened by the gas opening device 9 while being further entangled, and the particulate matter 28 is uniformly dispersed inside the tow band 60 having a wide fiber gap. Easy to do. Hereinafter, the second embodiment will be described focusing on differences from the first embodiment.

(Second Embodiment)
FIG. 6 is a side view of the gas opening device 109 and the addition device 110 according to the second embodiment. As shown in FIG. 6, the supply pipe 122 of the adding device 110 is connected to a side portion of the opening molding unit 119 of the gas opening device 109. The downstream end of the supply pipe 122 is exposed in the transport path 143.

  The adding device 110 has an auxiliary jet generating unit 145 provided in the middle of the supply pipe 122. The auxiliary jet generating unit 145 generates a jet by the gas G introduced from the outside, and assists the addition of the particulate matter 28 to the tow band 60 by this jet.

  The adding device 110 forcibly feeds the particulate matter 28 into the transport path 143 by the auxiliary jet generating portion 145, thereby preventing the particulate matter 28 from flowing backward by another jet flowing inside the jet generating portion 118. Thereby, the addition apparatus 110 adds the granular material 28 to the tow band 60 conveyed in the conveyance path 143 in the opening chamber 143a included in the conveyance path 143.

  Even if such a gas opening device 109 and the addition device 110 are used, an absorbent article similar to the absorbent article 62 of the first embodiment can be obtained. In addition, in 2nd Embodiment, since the addition position N is located in the inside of the fiber opening shaping | molding part 119, it is a part (for example, the introduction part 117 and the jet generation part 118) above the addition position N of the gas opening apparatus 109. ) May be arranged such that each longitudinal direction extends in the horizontal direction as an example.

(Confirmation test)
Using the manufacturing apparatus 1, a tow band (hereinafter referred to as a molded product) to which the particulate matter 28 was added and passed through the gas opening device 9 and conveyed upstream from the conveying roll pair 11 was manufactured as an example. .

  The portion between the outlet of the opening chamber 43a of the gas opening device 9 and the upper end position of the guide part 34 of the adding device 10 is horizontally arranged, and the granular material 28 is added to the tow band from above. Except for the above, the molded product of Comparative Example 1 was manufactured using the manufacturing apparatus 1 under the same setting conditions as in the example.

  The portion between the outlet of the opening chamber 43a of the gas opening device 9 and the upper end position of the guide portion 34 of the adding device 10 is horizontally arranged, and the addition position N is between the staying portion 20 and the transport roll pair 11. The molded product of Comparative Example 2 was manufactured using the manufacturing apparatus 1 under the same setting conditions as in Example except that the granular material 28 was added to the tow band from above.

  In Example, Comparative Example 1 and Comparative Example 2, the weight of the tow band per 1 m in the conveyance direction is 5.7 g, the amount of the granular material with respect to the toe band per 1 m in the conveyance direction is 3.3 g, and the width of the molded product is 40 mm. The thickness dimension of the molded product was set to 25 mm.

  In order to investigate the distribution of the granular material 28 in the width direction of the molded product, the molded product of Example, Comparative Example 1 and Comparative Example 2 cut so that the dimension in the conveying direction is 10 cm, further cut at the center in the width direction, The ratio (% by weight) of the amount of particulate matter contained in one side and the other side in the width direction was calculated.

  Further, in order to examine the distribution of the granular material 28 in the depth (thickness) direction of the molded product, the molded products of Examples, Comparative Example 1 and Comparative Example 2 cut so as to have a conveyance direction dimension of 2 cm are further vertically It cut | disconnected up and down in the direction center, and calculated the ratio (weight%) of the amount of granular materials contained in an upper part and a lower part.

  In addition, the ratio of the amount of granular material falling off from the upper part of the molded product was examined by the following method. Before and after the operation when the molded product of Example, Comparative Example 1, and Comparative Example 2 cut so that the dimension in the conveying direction is 30 cm upside down is measured, the amount of granular material contained in the molded product is measured and molded. When the product was placed upside down, the ratio (% by weight) of the amount of particulate matter dropped from the upper part of the molded product was calculated.

  In addition, the ratio of the amount of granular material falling off from the lower part of the molded product was examined by the following method. The amount of particulate matter contained in the molded products of Example, Comparative Example 1 and Comparative Example 2 cut so that the dimension in the transport direction P is 30 cm at a position spaced downstream from the downstream end of the staying part by a certain distance. Was measured at the addition position N, and the proportion (% by weight) of the amount of particulate matter that had fallen off from the bottom of the molded product was calculated. Table 1 shows the calculation results.

  As shown in Table 1, in Example, Comparative Example 1, and Comparative Example 2, there was no difference in the distribution of the granular material in the width direction of the molded product. However, in Comparative Examples 1 and 2, the distribution of the granular material 28 in the depth direction of the molded product is non-uniform compared to the example, and the granular material 28 is located above or below the molded product inside the molded product. It was found that it was unevenly distributed.

  Specifically, in Comparative Example 1, the granular material 28 was unevenly distributed on the lower side of the molded product. As a reason for this, in Comparative Example 1, it can be considered that the particulate matter 28 added to the toe band 60 from above moved due to gravity inside the toe band 60 and was unevenly distributed below the toe band 60.

  In Comparative Example 2, the granular material 28 was unevenly distributed on the upper side of the molded product. For this reason, in Comparative Example 2, since the granular material 28 was added to the tow band 60 from which the granular material 28 was opened and molded, the granular material 28 was hardly dispersed inside the tow band 60, and the granular material 28 was It is considered that it was unevenly distributed on the upper side of the toe band 60.

  In the example, compared with the comparative examples 1 and 2, the granular material 28 was arrange | positioned uniformly disperse | distributed inside the tow band 60. FIG. As a reason for this, in the embodiment, the tow band 60 is conveyed in the vertical direction between the outlet of the opening chamber 43a and the adding position N, so that the adding position is located upstream from the inlet of the opening chamber 43a. The granular material 28 added to the tow band 60 from N is uniformly dispersed in the fiber gaps of the tow band 60 to be opened while being restrained from moving by gravity within the tow band 60 in the direction perpendicular to the conveying direction P. It is thought that it was arranged.

  Moreover, in the Example, it turned out that the drop-off | omission of the granular material 28 from the upper part of a molded product and the drop-off | omission of the granular material 28 from the lower part of a molded product are suppressed substantially equivalently to the comparative example 1. FIG. As a reason for this, in the embodiment, by adding the particulate matter 28 to the tow band 60 on the upstream side of the outlet of the opening chamber 43a, the particulate matter 28 is uniformly distributed inside the tow band 60 while opening the tow band 60. It is considered that the particles 28 are dispersed and held by a plurality of fibers.

  Further, in Comparative Example 2, it was found that the granular material 28 dropped out from the upper part of the molded product as compared with the Example and Comparative Example 1. This is because most of the granular materials 28 were deposited and arranged on the upper side of the tow band 60 and were not held by the plurality of fibers of the tow band 60. It is conceivable that the object 28 easily dropped from the tow band 60.

  The present invention is not limited to each embodiment, and the configuration and method thereof can be changed, added, or deleted without departing from the spirit of the present invention. Each embodiment may be arbitrarily combined with each other. For example, a part of the configuration or method in one embodiment may be applied to other embodiments.

  As described above, according to the present invention, when manufacturing an absorbent article including an absorbent body in which water-absorbing granular materials are arranged, it is possible to disperse the granular materials uniformly in the absorbent body. It has the effect. Therefore, it is beneficial to apply widely as an absorbent article manufacturing apparatus and an absorbent article manufacturing method capable of exhibiting the significance of this effect.

G gas N addition device P conveying direction 1 absorbent article manufacturing device 7 first opening roll pair (opening roll pair)
8 Second opening roll pair (opening roll pair)
9,109 Gas opening device 10,110 Addition device 19a Tow band inlet (opening chamber opening)
19b Tow band outlet (exit of opening room)
20 staying part 35a gas introduction port 43,143 conveyance path 43a, 143a opening chamber 43b opening of opening chamber 60 tow band (tow)

Claims (12)

A gas opening device in which a transfer path including a opening chamber for opening the tow to be transferred with gas is formed;
An addition device for adding water-absorbing particulate matter to the tow at an addition position located upstream in the conveying direction of the tow from the outlet of the opening chamber;
The absorbent article manufacturing apparatus, wherein the tow is conveyed from above to below from the addition position toward the outlet in a state where the outlet is disposed below the addition position.   The absorbent article manufacturing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the tow is conveyed in a vertical direction from the addition position to the outlet in a state where the outlet is disposed immediately below the addition position.   The absorbent article manufacturing apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the addition position is located on the upstream side of the entrance of the opening chamber. The gas opening device has a retention part for temporarily retaining the tow that has passed through the outlet,
The absorbent article manufacturing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the tow that has passed through the outlet passes through the stay portion in a vertical direction. The gas opening device has a gas inlet for introducing the gas into the transport path,
The said addition position is an absorbent article manufacturing apparatus of any one of Claims 1-4 located in the said upstream from the said gas inlet.   The absorptive article according to any one of claims 1 to 5 provided with a plurality of pairs of opening rolls which make the tow contact with a peripheral surface and open the upstream side of the gas opening device. manufacturing device. Using a gas opening device in which a conveyance path including a fiber opening chamber for opening the tow to be conveyed with gas is formed, and an addition device for adding water-absorbing particulates to the tow,
From the addition position, with the outlet disposed below the addition position where the addition device adds the granular material to the tow, located upstream of the opening of the opening chamber in the conveying direction of the tow. A method for manufacturing an absorbent article, wherein the tow is conveyed from above to below toward the outlet.   The manufacturing method of the absorbent article of Claim 7 which conveys the said tow | toe vertically to the said exit from the said addition position in the state which has arrange | positioned the said exit right under the said addition position.   The method for producing an absorbent article according to claim 7 or 8, wherein the addition position is positioned on the upstream side of the opening of the opening chamber. Using the gas opening device having a retention part for temporarily retaining the tow that has passed through the outlet,
The method for producing an absorbent article according to any one of claims 7 to 9, wherein the tow that has passed through the outlet is passed through the staying portion in a vertical direction. Using the gas opening device having a gas introduction port for introducing the gas into the conveyance path,
The method for manufacturing an absorbent article according to any one of claims 7 to 10, wherein the addition position is positioned on the upstream side of the gas introduction port.   The absorbent article according to any one of claims 7 to 11, wherein, on the upstream side of the gas opening device, the tow is opened by contacting the circumferential surfaces of a plurality of pairs of opening rolls. Production method.

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